Kyne says it is galling that opponents to City Bypass are offering sympathy to communities affected by traffic

Galway Advertiser, Thu, Feb 11, 2016

Galway West TD and General Election Candidate Seán Kyne has reiterated his support for the Galway City Bypass following a public meeting on the project held last week.

He said that he has been consistent and forthright in his support for the Galway City Bypass.

“The upcoming election will be pivotal to the Bypass and the delivery of this crucial project. I firmly believe that the Galway City Bypass will be built.

“Three weeks ago, in response to a Dáil question which I tabled to the Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, Transport Infrastructure Ireland confirmed that €2.5 million has been allocated to Galway County Council for the N6 Galway City Bypass this year.

“This brings to €6.6 million the amount invested in the last three years in the meticulous design of the bypass and demonstrates the commitment of the Fine Gael-led government to the project.

“The Bypass is not just another road. It will also provide a fifth bridge crossing on the Corrib. It is incredible to think that a City of Galway’s size only has four bridge crossings over the Corrib.

He said that the recent analysis and outlined at the meeting which said that the Bypass will remove no more than five percent of the traffic from the City is based on figures which completely ignore the N59 traffic as well as traffic from Salthill and Knocknacarra trying to join the M6 or reach the east side of the city and county.

“I fully support the Bypass and have been completely upfront with my support for the project to all. It is galling to see election candidates declare their stringent opposition to the bypass only to canvass Connemara, or Salthill and Knocknacarra, and sympathetically listen to experiences of the traffic congestion which our city is unfortunately known for.

“It is also complete nonsense to imply that a supporter of the bypass is against public transport investment. An examination of the Dáil record, of Dáil Questions, and of correspondence from State agencies, such as the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (which incorporates the National Road Authority ), will demonstrate clearly my record of raising public transport issues and in seeking support and funding for initiatives. “I have, for example, raised issues including –

— Bus services to and from towns/villages such as Bearna, Moycullen, Claregalway and Oranmore·

— Bus lanes and the possibility of opening up lanes at certain times·

— Rural Transport Services such as Bealach ·

—Parking for tour and commuter buses ·

— Bus routes, stops and shelters · The use of Quincentenary Bridge for a direct West-East bus route·

—The City Bikes scheme including the expansion of the scheme· The development of Greenways

“There is no single stand-alone solution to Galway’s transport challenges. A bypass, however, is absolutely part of the overall solution. It will divert traffic from Connemara and the west of the City away from congested routes. It will connect Connemara to the National Road Network.

“It will help facilitate economic growth and development, particularly in the west of the City and in Connemara. And most of all it will help reduce the amount of time the people of Galway have to spend in their cars instead of being with their families,” he concluded.